Fish-scaling machine



p 12, 1939- w. D. GROW 2,172,472

FISH-SCALING MACHINE Filed Jan 18, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l 9; ATTORNEY Walfer D. Grow Sept. 12, 1939. w, D, R W 2,172,472

FISH-SCALING MACHINE Sept. 12, 1939. w 11 GROW 2,172,472

FISH-SCALING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 18, 1936 a INVENTOR Wizlfer D. Grow "may. M1

JLzAmRNEY Sept. 12, 1939. w. D. GROW 2,172,472

FISH-SCALING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 90 "min In 5 N 50 29 67 64 46 66 r 62 ll, 62 .98 63 fi 49 198 1a r 16 44 I 5 3 J 45 7.9 F 80 v H I 73 8 6\ i 75 64 71 2 1 6 n "I I 216 HE g 84 ll Ill H nu 4 n" m U 4" "Hm U INVENTOR I I WZzZierD. Grew "Maw 1 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES 2.11am nan-scams moms Walter D. Grow, Painesvllle, Ohio, assignor to Grow BM, Painsville, Ohio, a partnership Application January 1a, 1930, Serial No. sans 70laims,

This invention relates to means for scaling fish and has for its object apparatus for conveying the fish beneath nozzles, from which are emitted streams of fiuid under pressure, in such a manner that the fish are completely scaled without the necessity of manually turning them over on the conveyor.

A second object of my invention is the provision of a novel conveyor belt for the fish, means for securing them thereon and means forreleasing the securing means at proper points in the travel of the belt to permit the application and removal of the fish to and from said securing means.

A further object contemplates the use of an auxiliary or secondary conveyor belt at the loading end of the machine to facilitate application of the fish to the securing means carried by the main or primary conveyor belt.

Another object is the provision of nozzles adjustable both vertically and angularly to take care of different sizes of fish so as to obtain the most efficient performance at all times.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out in the following detailed description of an embodiment of my invention as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a fish scaling machine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a view in plan of the left half of the machine shown in Figure 1 with a part of the hood broken away.

Figure 3 is a view in section taken on line 3-3 of F'gure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the right half of the machine shown in Figure 1 with the hood and a part of the upper floor broken away.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view in section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 1, and

Figure 7 is a view in section taken on line 1-1 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, my machine consists of a framework comprising a pair of upper longitudinal members I, I, lower longitudinal members 2, 2 and a plurality of legs 3, all shown as angle irons. Cross members 4 may be used to tie the frame together laterally. At the left or front end of the frame, as viewed in Figs, 1-3,

are bearing support plates 5, 5 secured to members I and 2. Fastened to the plates 5, 5 are adjustable take-up bearings 6, 6 comprising bearing support members I, 1 provided with guiding 5:! surfaces 8, 8 for receiving bearings 9, 9. The

ends of sprocket shaft II are received in these bearings. Screw elements pass through threaded holes in the end of each support member 1 and engage the bearings 9, 9 for adjusting the latter longitudinally of the machine. 5 Mounted on the shaft l0 and spaced thereon so as to lie in the vertical plane of members I and 2, are sprockets |2, |2. -At the right or rear end of the machine, as seen in Figure 1, a pair of bearings l3 fastened to the frame provide sup- 10 ports for a drive shaft I. on this shaft are 'mounted drive sprockets I5 spaced an amount equal to that of the sprockets |2, l2 and lying in the same vertical plane therewith. Only one bearing I3 and sprocket I5 are shown, but it 15 will be understood that there are one bearing and one sprocket at each side of the machine. Between the sprockets l2, l2 and l5, ii are a pair of link or primary conveyor belts ||i, I6 for conveying the fish to be scaled. As shown, each 20 belt consists of a series of metal links, but it is apparent that forms of conveyor belts other than that illustrated may be employed if desired.

Spaced at intervals along the belts I6, I 6 are links I! having projections l8, to which are fastened the means for. clamping the fish to the main conveyor belt. The clamping means may take the form of a base member l9 secured at each end to the projections l8, l8 of an opposite pair of links ll. The base members thus func- 30 tion to space and te together the two primary conveyor belts laterally of the machine. Member I I9 is provided with a pair of upstanding flanges 20, 20 for pivotal mounting of a bell-crank lever 2| comprising horizontal arms 22 and 23 and a 35 connecting vertical portion 24. A pin 25 passes through openings in flanges 20, 20 and lever 2| to form a p'vot for the lever. Extending between member l9 and arm 23 of lever 2| is a spring 26 which normally maintains arm 22 in contact 40 with member I9. The arm 22 of lever 2| may be provided with a projection 21, and member IS with a corresponding recess 28 for securely clamping the tail of a fish under pressure of the spring 26.

To simplify application to and removal of the fish from the clamping means, camming mechanism is provided to operate the levers 2| as they pass along the front or receiving portion of the machine. Members 29 are secured to the frame 50 of the machine and support a cam track 30. As the conveyor belt moves from left to right, as viewed in Figs. 1-3, the arms 23 of the bellcrank levers 2| sucessively engage the under s de of the cam track 30 and, due to its camming action, the levers are rotated about their pivots, permitting application of thetail of the fish beneath the raised arm 22. The cam track 66 is sloped upward at the end of the loading station, as at II. which permits release of the bellcrank levers, and the action of spring 26 causes thearmsfltofirmlyclampthefishtothe conveyor belt.

The clamping means above described support only one end of the fish and I find it desirable to provide a further support that will move at the same speed. as the main conveyor belt for that portion of the travel necessary for the clamping means to pass the cam track 66. An auxiliary or secondary conveyor belt 62 comprising a series of metal links 66 is supported at one end by a sprocket wheel 64 mounted on shaft l6. These links 63 are formed with relatively wide wings or supporting surfaces on which the fish are adapted to rest during the clamping operation. A sprocket wheel 65 on shaft 66 supports the other end of this belt. The shaft 66 .rotates in bearlugs 61 mounted on horizontal members 36, which members are in turn supported by vertical elements 66 secured to the frame of the machine. The shaft 66 has one end thereof extending outside of the machine on which is mounted a sprocket wheel 46. Shaft I is provided with a similar sprocket 4| and the sprockets 46 and 4| are connected by a roller drive chain 42. It will be seen that as the upper portions of the conveyor belts l6 move from left to right, shaft I0 is rotated, moving the sprocket 4i with it. Roller chain 42 in turn, moved by sprocket 4|, causes sprocket 46, shaft 36 and sprocket 35 to rotate in the same direction, thus moving the auxiliary conveyor belt 62 in the same direction as the main conveyor belt l6. It will be understood that the sizes of sprockets 46 and 4i may be such that the conveyor belts l6 and 62 move at the same speed. longitudinally extending plates 46, 46 may be secured to members I, I to support the wings of the links 63 and maintain said links at the same level.

With the above described construction there is provided a movable support for the fish, traveling at the same speed as the main conveyor belts i6 and adapted to move the fish with these belts until the clamping means grip the fish between the members l6 and 2|. After leaving the auxiliary conveyor belt 32 the fish may be supported by a table 44 secured to the frame by cross members 45.

Referring particularly to Figs. 46, there is shown the scaling portion of the machine, which may be enclosed by a sheet metal chamber or box 46. The fish are drawn into this chamber on the conveyor belts i6 and are held from lateral movement by rollers 41, 46 and 46 while they pass beneath a nozzle 56. These rollers are mounted on shafts respectively supported by pivotally mounted pairs of arms 5|, 5|, 52, 52 and 56, 53. These arms are pivotally mounted on inverted U- shaped members 54, 55 and 56 secured to the frame of the machine. The roller arms 5|, 5!,

52, 62 and 56, 56 may also be joined at their forward ends by braces 51, 56 and 56.

The nozzle 66 may comprise a pair of sheets 60, 66 welded into a length of pipe 6| into which an opening has'first been cut. The sheets 66 may be joined at each side by other sheets 62, leaving a narrow, opening 66 at the end. The nozzle is connected by a pipe 64 to a main pipe 65 for supplying a fiuid, such as water, under pressure to the nozzle. As the fish are drawn beneath the nozzle the pressure of the water or other fiuid washes or blows the scales off the fish. The rollers 41, 46 and 46 may be made of metal and should be of such weight as to maintain the fish in the center of the machine laterally thereof, and prevent them from being blown around by the pressure of the fluid from the nozzle. Without such centering means the fish would be forced from beneath the nozzle to one side or the other thereof by the stream of fluid from such nomle, and no scaling action would result. It will be noted that the rollers are of smaller diameter in their central portions so as to more nearly conform to the contour of the fish.

The nozzles may be made adjustable both vertically and angularly by the use of pivotal Joints 66, 61. These may be in the form of ordinary pipe unions. It is at times necessary to adjust the nozzles according to the various sizes of fish being scaled in order that the best scaling efficiency may be obtained.

- After passing under nozzle 56 the fish are carried around sprockets l5 and into the lower portion of chamber 46. To guide the fish around sprocket I5 I provide a roller 66 supported by arms 66, 66 pivotally mounted on the frame. 'It will be seen that the passage beneath nozzle 56 scales only one side of the fish. In passing around sprocket I5 they are turned upside down, and I provide a similar nozzle 16 in the lower part of the chamber to scale the other side.

This nozzle is made the same as nozzle 56 and comprises sloping sheets 1|, 1|, side walls 12, 12 and opening 13. Rollers 14, 15 and 16 hold the fish in position in the same manner as rollers 41, 48 and 46. Pivoted arms 11, 16 and 16 support rollers 14, 15 and 16 similar to those described for the other rollers. Nozzle 16 is supplied with fluid through a pipe 66 connected into the main line 65. A lower table in the form of a sheet 6i may be fastened to members 2. 2 by means of crossmembers 62, to support the fish as they pass beneath the lower nozzle and are returned to the unloading end of the machine. Members 62 are formed with a U-shaped portion 66 to provide for passage of the downwardly extending part of the clamping means. It will be apparent that a considerable amount of water will be used in the operation of my machine, and I have therefore provided means for using the same water over and over again. In Figs. 5 and 7 there isshown a rear trough 64 comprising side walls 65, 65 and a connecting bottom wall 66. This trough slopes toward the center of the machine and collects water from the nozzles and returns it to a reservoir 61, which may be a sheet metal box. A trough 66 extending from the front of the machine also slopes toward the reservoir, and may be in the form of a table portion 66, which acts to support the fish after they leave table 6|, and an offset portion 60 providing clearance for the downwardly extending part of the clamping means. This trough may also be secured to members 2, 2. At the front end of the machine, trough 66 may be bent downwardly as at 6| so that the scaled fish may slide into a receptacle the desired pressure, which may vary from about 30 to pounds per square inch, depending on the type and size of fish being scaled.

The main and auxiliary conveyor belts l6 and 22 may be driven by a motor through a speed reducing mechanism 96 and chain 91 connected with sprocket shaft I. The speed of the conveyor belts may vary from about 30 to 60 feet per minute. If desired, windows 98 may be provided in the box 46 so that the scaling of the fish may be observed.

In operation the pump and chain drive are first started, after which the fish are successively placed on the auxiliary belt 32 with their tails in the direction of travel and in position to be secured by the clamping means. Since the auxiliary conveyor belt 32 travels at the same rate of speed as the main conveyor belt l6 carrying the clamping means, the fish are conveyed by said auxiliary belt in fixed relation to said clamping means, so that when the latter passes out from under the cam track 30, the fish will be readily secured by such clamping means. The fish are then carried beneath nozzle 50 and one side is scaled. The main conveyor belt It then moves them to the lower table beneath nozzle 10, which scales the other side. The fish are then returned to the front end of the machine, and, as the portion 23 of the bell-crank lever contacts the cam track 30, the fish are released and slide down the sloping member 9| into a receptacle.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. In a fish scaling machine a conveyor belt for moving the fish through the machine comprising a pair of spaced flexible members, means connecting said members, clamping means on said connecting means, and a nozzle adjacent said conveyor adapted to emit a fluid under pressure to remove scales from the fish, one or more means being provided above a run of the conveyor in floating relation thereto to contact a fish thereon to tend to guide movement while the fish is passing beneath the nozzle to substantially avoid lateral movement thereof.

2. In a fish scaling machine a mprlsing a pair adapted to convey ripp ng means extending between said members and a second conveyor belt intermediate said members.

3. In a fish scaling machine, conveying means conveyor belt for moving the fish through the machine, means comprising a pair of nozzles emitting a thin stream of fiuid under pressure and substantially the width-of the fish, said nozzles being placed at different levels in operative relation to said belt for removing scales from the fish and lateral movement restraining means for substantially prevening lateral movement of the fish as it pass beneath the nozzles.

4. In a fish scaling machine, means for conveying fish through the machine, a nozzle for directing a fluid under pressure against the fish to be scaled to remove scales therefrom, adjustable means associated with said nozzle for changing the position thereof relative to said conveying means, and floating means engaging the surface of a fish moved by said conveying means, said nozzle having the opening at the end thereof as wide as said floating means.

5. In a fish scaling machine, means for conveyi ng fish through the machine, a nozzle for directing a fluid under pressure against the fish to be scaled to remove scales therefrom, adjustable means associated with said nozzle i'or changing the position thereof angularly with respect to said conveying means and vertically movable fish engaging means adapted to retard lateral movement of a fish conveyed beneath the nozzle, said adjustable means directing the fluid toward said engaging means in said nozzle.

6. In a fish scaling machine, means for conveying fish through the machine, a nozzle for directing a fluid under pressure against the fish to be scaled to remove scales therefrom, adjustable means associated with said nozzle for changing the position thereof vertically and angularly relative to said conveying means, and means associated with the nozzle tending to counteract any movement in a lateral direction of the fish which may be caused by the fluid emitted from the nozzle, said means contacting points at different elevations in the contacting surface of the fish.

7. In a fish scaling machine, a conveyor belt for moving the fish through the machine comprising a pair of spaced flexible members, means connecting said member clamping means on said connecting means, a nozzle adjacent said conveyor adapted to emit a fluid under pressure to remove scales from the fish and pivoted means adapted to contact the upper surface of a fish while conveyed below the nozzle, said pivoted means having substantially the same width as the spray emitted from the nozzle, whereby the tendency of the spray to cause lateral movement of the fish will be counteracted by the tendency of the pivoted means to prevent lateral movement.

WALTER D. GROW.

various adjustments of .30 

